Home   Buckie   Article

£30k Covid cash boost for Buckie community groups


By Alan Beresford

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

SEVEN community groups from Buckie have received a share of £31,000 thanks to grants from the Scottish Government.

BDCC chairman Kevin Mckay with some one of the fun packs delivered to local children.
BDCC chairman Kevin Mckay with some one of the fun packs delivered to local children.

The cash is designed to aid community efforts to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Buckie and District Community Council (BDCC) chairman Kevin Mckay said: "We were able to apply on behalf of a number of local groups, which is great.

"It's excellent to have so many community groups working together in the current circumstances.

"Buckie as a community always rallies round. But the effort has been really extra-special these past weeks."

The BDCC has already supplied local kids with 100 activity packs to keep them occupied during lockdown.

Its £2000 share of the pot will now be used for 200 more, divided between Buckie's four primary schools.

Mr Mckay paid tribute to all those who had supported the scheme, including Buckie Home Hardware Store which has donated many items for the packs.

With its £16,200, the Buckie Kindness Group will be able to ramp up its efforts even further to help vulnerable people and those self-isolating during the Covid-19 crisis.

John Stuart from the group said: "This money, allied to the £2500 we've already received in donations locally, is going to make a massive difference to a lot of people.

"We have 70 volunteers supporting more than a 1000 people.

"They're doing things like delivering food and medical supplies, doing people's shopping, calling to see that folk are okay.

"The appreciation you get on the doorstep is really humbling.

The last few weeks has seen the kindness group's role expand markedly and has now created a community larder as well as undertaking food collections to help fill care packages.

Providing laptops and tablets to those self-isolating has earned Buckie Area Forum £6000.

This will allow people to keep in touch with family and friends and also undertake online shopping.

Complementing this, Buckie Regeneration Group has been awarded £1500 to fund wifi data packs for those without internet access.

Helping paying the bills until lockdown ends has landed the Fishermen's Hall Trust and Arradoul SWI Hall £2650 and £1400 respectively.

Completing the local awards is Findochty Community Council, whose £1800 grant will be used to provide food ingredients, PPE and food vouchers.

The cash was secured from the Scottish Government's Supporting Communities Fund, with the help of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More